A conversation

My Bride: I love you Ella. Critter: Why do you love me? Is it because I'm pretty? B: That's only a small part of why I love you. I love you because you're you. I'll always love you no matter what you do, who you choose to be, what you say – no matter what. Forever and ever. C: But why? B: Because you're my little girl and I love you for who you are. C: Even when I'm big? B: Yep. C: Even if I'm naughty? B: Even then. C: How about if I'm good, will you still love me? B: Yep, even if you have big teeth like a crocodile, I;ll still love you. C: Even if I'm tall? B: Always. C: Even if I make a mess? B: Even if you make a mess. C: How 'bout if I'm stinky? B: Even if you're stinky, I'll love you. C: Even if I'm a boy? B: Even if you're a boy. C: Even when I'm big? B: Yep. C: Even when I talk loud? B: Always. C: How 'bout when I don't talk? B: Yep, I'll still love you C: Even if I'm a dinosaur? B: Even if you're a dinosaur. C: Even if I'm a tyrannosaurus? But they're the meanest and scariest, even then? B: Even then. Long silent pause (apparently tyrannosaurus is the worst thing she can think of. Worse even than if she was a boy) C: Hmmmm... Another long pause... C: You sound tired mommy. You should sleep now also. B: OK. Good night, dinosaur.
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My latest guilty pleasure

A new series just started in the UK (Thursdays on Sky One) called "Project Catwalk" (like 'Project Runway' in the US, but in London, and hostedby Kelly Osborne), and I said, hey, I've heard good things about the U.S. show, despite the fact that at first glance it seems like the kind of show that actively makes you lose intelligence quotient while watching, but what the heck: the new season of American Idol hasn't started yet, so I'll give it a try. Judgement: I LUUUUURVE it. (That's right. 'Lurve'. It's like 'love', but with more drool.) Even Kelly Osborne - who tries unsuccessfully to make skank cool - was growing on me by the end of the show. On the one hand, my bride and I kind of raised our eyebrows at the idea of a "British fashion" show, which is about as oxymoronic as "French hospitality." This was reinforced by the fact that the design contestants showed up to the program dressed like they had just been attacked by a Salvation Army outlet sale. But within minutes the beauty of the show started to shine through: This is an entire show which encourages cattiness. We spent the entire hour mocking everything about the show, the contestants and the final catwalk display. And at the end of the hour I felt an all-over roseate glow that I normally associate with post-coital moments or a really good pee. Genius.
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Proving peanuts are an international delight

From Ulaanbanjo:
[H]ere's the label from the back of a chinese packet of salted peanuts: THIS PRODUCT IS MADE OF SELECTED SHANDONG GREAT PEANUT KERNELS AND PROCESSED WITH ADVANCED EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY OF THE WORLD. IT IS TASTY AND CRISP, NOT OILY, AND IS A KIND OF CONVENIENT TOURING FOOD AS WELL. YOU MAY CHOOSE IT AS A PRESENT OR ENTERTAIN GUESTS WITH IT. IF IT GOES WITH TEA AND WINE, A NICE FLAVOUR COULD BE ENJOYED.
Where can I sign up for some "advanced equipment and technology of the world"?
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